Introduction to the Carnivora

Lions, and Tigers, and Bears...oh my!

Carnivora is the order of eutherianmammals that includes wolves, dogs, cats, raccoons,
bears, weasels, hyaenas, seals, and walruses, to name just a few.
Most carnivores are land animals, but an important and highly specialized
group of carnivores, the pinnipeds or "fin-feet," have taken up life
in the oceans; pinnipeds include seals, sea lions, and walruses. A few other
carnivores, such as the sea otter, are also specialized for life
in the oceans.

Human-carnivore relationships are extremely varied. On the one hand, dogs
and cats have been domesticated for thousands of years. Many carnivores,
such as mink, seal, fox, and bobcat, have long been hunted or ranched for their
fur. Other carnivores benefit humans by killing pests such as snakes and
rodents, or by consuming carrion. However, the reputation of many large
carnivores as predators on man or on livestock  a false or highly
exaggerated reputation, in most cases
 has been used to justify unrestricted hunting.
Hunting and trapping of wild carnivores for fur, and the destruction of
habitats around the world have also contributed towards bringing
many carnivore species to extinction or to the brink of extinction.